Closure



A. BENZINGER.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

.- tainers Where ready opening is desirable, yet

UNITED vsTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

.ALBERT BENZINGER. 0F CINCINNATI; OHIO. ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-HALF TO WALTER I.

SCEIOENLE, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO. i

CLOSURE.

Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and 'State of O hio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closures, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to closures for coni requiring more or less tightness and security of closure. i

The object o f my invention is to simplify the construction vof such closures without reducing, but rather increasing, their efficiency.

My invention consists in the combination of parts and in the details of -construction and arrangement of parts as will hereinafter be more lfully described and-claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a verticall cross-section on a planecorresponding to the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, showing an example of my invention;

Fig..2 is a horizontal cross-section on a plane corresponding to the line 2--2 ofFig. 1 looking downward;

Fig. Sis a plan view of the neck vof the example of Figs. 1 and 2 with the plug or ca removed;

1g. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1,

but showing a modification;

Fig.l 5 is another similar sectional Viewl showing another-modification;

6 is another similar sectional view showing a further modification of the example of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the split washer of the example of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a similar view of the elastic washer of said example.;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross section of the upper part of aglass jar provided with a closure embodying my invention, the section being similar to that of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is adiagram ofthe slot and boss. My invention is well adapted as a closure for the radiatorsv of automobiles, aircraft, motor boats and the like, and in Figs." 1 to 6,

inclusive, I have illustrated it as being conwell adapted as a closure for any container structed for such a purpose. However, it is such as a jar, jug, bottle, can or the like;

` beingin fact adapted to take the place of anyapLstopper, lid

plug or other means of closing a`y`"kind o container. This wide variety of uses is exemplified herein in Fig.

Specication of Letters Patent. Patented Apr, 13,

`.Application led .Tune 13, 1918. Serial No. 239,777.

t) by showing how my inventionis embodied 1n a jar, such as an ordinary fruit jar.

From this it will be understood that the mentioned.

In the examples of Figs; 1 to'f, inclusive,A44

the radiator is notshown; butfineach instance it will be understood that the neck shown is of the kind adapatedi-to be fixed to the radiator around its opening .through which the cooling medium, sii/chl aawater, is

poured into the radiator. l

In the example `of Figs. 1 .to 3,1"ir'icliisive,

'the neck 1 is of the ordinary construction of rather heavysheet'met l which is drawn into a' shape 'which is mainly cylindrical,

with a radiallyoutwa'rddy extending annular flange 2 around its liottom. Ordinarily the plain cylindrical formation continues entirely to the upper end of the neck, and the interior of this upper Iend partis tapped or threaded to receive a suitably threaded plug or cap which` is screwed down therein; or the outside of this upper end part may be threaded and a cap with an internal thread m'ay be screwed down thereon.

n accordance with my invention, the threads, either internally or externally, are dispensed with; the only additional detail of this neck construction being the provision of a plurality of relatively wide and deep grooves 3 which are pressed in the walls of the neck 1 at suitable intervals therearound. Each one of these grooves 3 comprises an upright part 4 leading down from the upper edge of the neck 1, and by a suitable cui-ve 5 leading into a circumferential art 6 which terminates in a pocket 7 to whic ward.

pocket this 'circumferential part 6 curves slightly up- The cap v8 comprises the depending iiange 9 that lits rather snugly inside the neck 1 and integrally joins the hollow rim -10 around and integrally joining with the main upper part'of the cap 8, which, as shown, is preferably concavo-convex with its concave side downward. This cap 8 is made entirely l cap; and the tightness of the closure will of a single piece of sheet metal. Its flange 9 has bosses 11 pressed outward in its sheet lmetal at the proper intervals therearound and a proper distance downward from the lower side of the hollow rim 10 for these bosses to enter down through the upright parts 4 of the grooves 3 when theflange is inserted down into the neck l, and to fit Snugly up in the pockets 7 at the ends of the .grooves 3 with the lower side of the hollow rim 10 bearing tightly against the upper Yedge of the neck 1 when the cap has been twisted around in the neck after ,these bosses 11 have descended far enough to slide around in the circumferential parts 6 of the grooves 3. v

This operation of the device is permitted, due to the resiliency of the sheet metal in Ythe hollow rim 10. This hollow rim being extended out over the upper edge of the neck 1, and its lower annular part 12 being virtually fulcrumed all around its extreme outer part wherel it joins the upright part of the rim, this part 12 is capable of yielding slightlyl upwardly in its inner regions where it Joins the flange 9. This yielding of this part of the cap is suiicient to permit the bosses 11 to pass along the parts 6 of the grooves 3 Where the resistance of this part 12 of the cap is overcome by the user press- 'ing down on it; 'and then when the bosses '11 .have reached the pockets 7, the rim 10 will only partially regain its normal shape and will be holding these bosses 11 up in these pockets 7. `It will be understood that the entire upper part ofthe cap 8 also par` takes somewhat of this movement or distortion which permitsthis completion of the` lclosure and acts in thus maintaining` it against accidental derangement.

There is, therefore, a security df closure equal to that of a screw-threaded plug or depend upon the evenness of bearing of the lower side of the rimY 10 on the upper edge of the neck 1. these parts may bemade smooth and true enough to afford all ofthe tightness that is .required of a radiator cap without the use of any gasket, the same as with the threaded closure. At the same time, instead of the complicated threads, there are simply the grooves `3 pressed out in the sheet metal of .the neck and the bosses 11 pressed out in the sheet metal vof the cap. Also, the cap of thin sheet metal is far more economically produced and conveniently used than the heavy It willbe understood that' flange 17 inserted into this enlarged upper. part of the neck 13, the lower edge of the cap flange 17 will rest on the. shoulder'jl while the lower side of the hollow rim 18 of the cap rests on the upper edge of the neck 13.

Also'in this example, the enlarged part of the neck13 isprovided with inwardly extending bosses 19 formed in itssheet metal as thebosses are formed in the'sheet metal of the cap flange in the preceding example; and the cap fiange 17 has outwardly opening grooves 20 formed by pressing the ma- A terial of the flange inward; each of these grooves 20 comprising the upright part 21 leading from the lower edge of the fiange 17 upward, and leading, by a suitable curve 22, into the circumferential part 23 which terminates in the pocket 24.' It will be seen that the principle of this constructionis the same as that of the preceding example; the grooves 20 of the cap lreceiving the bosses 19 of the neck when the flange 17 of the cap is inserted vinto -the neck. In this case, the

In the example of Fig. 5, the neck 25 has its lower flange 26; and it has its upper part reduced in diameter so as to leave an annular upwardly facingshoulder 27 around its outside.' Above this shoulder 27 theineck has the outwardly extending bosses 28. The cap 29 has the depending-flange 30 and the hollow rim 31; and this flange 30 is adapted to fit around the outside of the reduced upper part of the neck 25 with its lower edge down against the shoulder 27. The flange 30 has the inwardly opening grooves 32, each'comprising the.. upright part 33l leading from the lower edge of the flange upward, and, by a curve 34, leading linto the circumferential part 35. which terminates in the pocket 36. In this case, as in Fig. 4, the material of the neck, as well as that of thecap, yields in theclosing operation; the yielding being in the hollow rim 31 of the cap, and in 4the vicinity of the shoulder 27 of the neck. In this example, however, the Upper edge of the neck 25 bears against the lower inner side ofthe mam part of thel capl 29 out adjacent to the part of the cap. It will be understood that here the resiliency of the entire upper part hollow rim 31 'outside the concavit-y of this the cap 29'onthe-upper edge of the neck 25 in Fig. 5, would determine the tightness -of parts, as well as o the closure.` The example of Fig. 4 with the shoulder 15 omitted'would be virtually the same as that of Fig. 1, except that the VYcap has the grooves and the neck has the bosses in Fig. 4, whereas in Fig. 1 the bosses are on ythe cap and the grooves are in the neck. Also, it Will be understood that where the cap fits down over theneck as in Fig. 5, whether the shoulder 27 is providedA or not, the bosses may be on the neck and the grooves in the cap, as shown, or the cap may have inwardly extending bosses enter.

ing outwardly facing grooves in the neck.

In the'example of Fig. 6, the parts are substantially the same as in Fig. 5; but the neck-is not so highabove its `shoulder 27, and an elastic washer or gasket 37 and a split resilient' ring or washer 38 are interposed between the upper edge of the neck and thelower' inner side of the cap; thesplit washer 38 being next to the cap and coacting with the hollow rim 31` and elastic 'l washer 37 in making an adjustment of these cap to the shoulder 27, so as to effect a very tight closure such as may be depended upon to prevent the escape of either liquid or gaseous substances.

The glass jar 39 in Fig. 9 has the outwardly extending bosses 40 formed in the "glass when the jar is made. These bosses are at suitable intervals around the neck of the jar and a proper distance down from the upper edge thereof, so that when the cap 29 is brought down over the neck of the jar the bosses 40v are received inthe grooves 32y as in the preceding v.examples and by twisting the cap around on the jar, the closure is completed. The elastic ring or gasket 41 l is interposed between the upper edge ofthe jar andthe lower side ofthe cap as is usual take the place of the screw threads formed on the outside of the neck of an ordinary glass fruit jar or the like. yItis extremely diicult to form suiciently perfect threads the lower edge of the uponthe resiliency of the cap itself with its hollow rim 31 in conjunction with that of the ring or gasket 41, the closing or openlng of the jar is a very brief and easy operation. The lid or cap need be twisted vthrough a distance of only about a half inch to either open or close the jar; instead of having to have several turns, as with the threaded .-closures. That is also an 'improvement over many other closures designed to dispense with screw threads in jar closures, because there are no extra pieces other than the elastic washer or gasket 41. Where no great security of closure is required, it will be seen that even the elastic washer maybe dispensed with, as in the case ofthe radiator caps of the preceding examples.

While all of the examples show wide necks, it will be understood that bottles, jugs and the like with comparatively narrow necks may also be provided with my invention; since the resiliency and automatic adjustability of the closure is not dependent upon the width of the vcap itself, but rather on the radial extent of the hollow rim and this rim may be extended as far on ya narrow-necked bottle or the like as upon a jar or other container with a wide neck. Y

I f the Ycap is made of such relatively heavy material that its resiliency is` negligible, some yieldable auxiliary means, such as the split washer of Figs. 6 and 7, may be employed either with or without the gasket shown in Fig. 8. In any case, whether the resiliency is provided in the cap itself or'by an auxiliary means, the operation of the grooves and bosses will be substantially as hereinbefore described and as clearly indicated bythe enlarged diagrammatic view in Fig. 10 where the groove outline is solid and the dotted circles indicate successive positions ofthe boss in the groove as one or the other of the parts is moved in the closing Aor opening operation, as has been described.` in jar closures. Here the'simple bosses 40 While certain constructional details are deemed preferable in 'connection with my invention, and I have shown and described these rather specifically in elucidating the construction and use of my invention, as is required, I do not wishA to be understood as being limited to such precise showing and description, but having thus fully described 1 my invention, what I claim as new and desire to. secure by Letters Patent is: A*

In a closure, two elements, one of which is adapted to fit in the other, said elements lbeing adapted to berelat-ively 'rotated-when the one element fits in the other, a boss on one of said elements, the other one of said elements having a' roove admitting said boss when the one e ement is inserted into the other, said groove extending circumferentially and terminating of saidelements being adapted to close the other, and this one of said elements comprising a radially extended hollow annular rim of resilient material, thereby constituting yieldable means which permits said boss to be Areceived in said pocket during said relative rotation.

Witnesses:

JAMES N. RAMSEY, CLARENCE PERDEW.

ALBERT BENZINGEB. i 

